Falcons still need linemen (and Weatherspoon video-palooza)
Florida's Carlos Dunlap might be a risk worth taking at defensive end.
The Falcons have filled one significant hole on their defense with the drafting of Sean Weatherspoon. Today, they can fill another. They don’t have a second-round pick, so to get a real impact player might require general manager Thomas Dimitroff to trade up.
Dimitroff suggested Thursday that trying to move into the second round “might be too expensive” in trade. Indeed, this whole three-day draft thing creates a new dynamic for general managers. They have a day to think about who’s still left on the board after the first round and what moves they might want to make to go after a specific player. That can drive up the market.
That said, here are five players who would help the Falcons (but may or may not be available by their scheduled turn in the third round). You’ll notice a theme. I think the Falcons still need help on both lines.
Then, enjoy a Sean Weatherspoon Video Feast.
♦ 1. Indiana tackle Rodger Saffold (6-4, 316): He could go early today. Said to possess excellent lateral movement. The Falcons’ offensive line is still a work in progress, and Sam Baker, a top draft pick from two years ago, has struggled with injuries.
♦ 2. USC defensive end Everson Griffen (6-3, 273): The team still needs a strong pass-rusher on the end, especially with John Abraham’s health (and therefore effectiveness) always an issue. Griffin struggled with consistency problems at Southern Cal but he can put pressure on the quarterback.
♦ 3. Massachutsetts guard Vladimir Ducasse (6-4, 332): He’s large, to say the least, and an excellent run blocker. Projects as a guard but started 23 games at left tackle the last two years.
♦ 4. Illinois guard Jon Asamoah (6-4, 305): He started every game in the last three seasons, not missing any time because of injury. Said to be a strong run blocker who plays with a nasty streak, which should fit in well with the Falcons’ objectives.
♦ 5. Florida defensive end Carlos Dunlap (6-5, 277): Yes, there’s the downside, starting with the DUI late last season. His maturity has come into question on several occasions. The hope is that all of this negative publicity is a wakeup call. Athletically, he’s one of the best players in the draft. He was defensive MVP of the BCS title game two years ago. Even with his issues this past year, he still had nine sacks, 10.5 tackles for losses and deflected six passes.
♦
Here’s a video aggregation of videos via YouTube. I think you’ll particularly enjoy the dance one.
♦
Sean Weatherspoon is a Van Halen fan? Who knew? Here he is introducing a nice package of highlights.
♦
Here’s a shorty from Mizzou Pro Day. Noteworthy is the Falcons’ scout who is furiously scribbling notes.
♦
This is the funniest video: Weatherspoon dancing while trying on clothes at Express.
♦
Another nice highlight package, this from the Senior Bowl, in which Weatherspoon had five tackles, an interception and a pass breakup.
♦
Weatherspoon’s own day in the life. Nothing too earth shattering but entertaining.
♦
NFL.com did a good interview immediately following the Scouting Combine. Weatherspoon compares himself to Lance Briggs of the Chicago Bears. Problem is, the NFL won’t provide an embedding code, but here’s the link.
♦
Earlier Falcons draft posts
♦ Weatherspoon helps Falcons fix the right side of the ball
♦ Draft night (LIVE): Behind the scenes at Falcons’ HQ
♦ Draft day (Part II): Tebow top 15, Morgan to Falcons?
♦ Draft day (Part I): Falcon options; Berry rips Deion; Tebow to Vikes?
♦
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122 comments Add your comment
farspice
April 23rd, 2010
4:55 pm
Good pick on Spoon! Will help from the start. Now for the next two picks go for the best available lineman.
Lame Pick
April 23rd, 2010
5:36 pm
Now what do you do? You wasted your 1st round pick on a sluggish OLB and now there are no legitimate weapons to grab to slay the Saints. Maybe Dimitroff would like to explain why he didn’t fleece Denver for a few picks to move up and grab their 1st round goal D. Thomas. We could have still gotten “Spoon” and a few more good picks to offset his lack of value. Then he could maybe explain why he didn’t keep D. Thomas for the Falcons offense and go after an OLB in the third where there still are plentry that match or beat “Spoon” in some or all categories. This draft is already an epic fail, let’s just hope “TD” doesn’t blow it yet again.
Dawgs2010
April 23rd, 2010
5:52 pm
Norwood is a stiff. He is worthless as trade bait.
yoda
April 23rd, 2010
5:56 pm
JS….Pro Football Talk doesn’t think much of Kindle do they….what round they expect him to go?
coo coo bird fan
April 23rd, 2010
6:06 pm
Your an idiot lame pick! You wanted to take a WR who played in a wishbone offense and have the nerve to call a 3 time Big 12 1st teamer sluggish? You obviously don’t watch college football. Stop getting your info from Kiper and McShay and watch some games other than Tech for a change. TD is a great GM and I have faith they’ll supply us with quality.
Draft Maven
April 23rd, 2010
6:40 pm
I think Spoon is a great pick. Yet, oddly, I have never seen him play.
shane
April 23rd, 2010
7:05 pm
Have to wonder what the Broncos are thinking
shane
April 23rd, 2010
7:06 pm
A QB who cant throw and a WR who cant catch. Not a good combo
James
April 23rd, 2010
7:29 pm
Man. I like this kid.
Check out the speed as he blankets McCluster.
And the moves on the interception return. Can’t help but be excited about that!
hiramsaint
April 23rd, 2010
8:24 pm
shane , are you talkin’ about matty and roddy ?
Jason
April 23rd, 2010
8:41 pm
Dwyer and Burnett should have stayed one more year. Idiots.
Gator in the Hootch
April 23rd, 2010
8:42 pm
How many of those Gators been picked already? six in the first 2 rounds. Georgia??? None. Yeah, go to Georgia if you want to play in the NFL (as a water boy)….how is that working for you???? Watching the draft, recruits??? Gainesville…training ground for the NFL…especially if you are a QB!!!!
Matt the Brave
April 23rd, 2010
8:43 pm
Clausen to the Panthers. Wonder if he’ll throw Steve Smith under the bus. That happens, his sorry little whiney butt’s out the door in a flash.
Gator in the Hootch
April 23rd, 2010
8:45 pm
Shane…sort of what Meyer was thinking….I want to win championships with talented players with a lot of character, personal drive, tons of dedication, leadership skills, etc, etc, etc, etc……and I bet Thomas will be better than your current WR in the pros……
Lilburn Dawg
April 23rd, 2010
9:00 pm
Jeff, what does it say about the caliber of UGA players since not a one has been drafted so far (if I’m correct) and we are up to the 72nd pick??
Tosin
April 23rd, 2010
9:23 pm
Griffen DE from USC.
Tosin
April 23rd, 2010
9:23 pm
hopefully
Kake
April 23rd, 2010
9:24 pm
Maybe the falcons will take a ga player. LOL. Not
Justin
April 23rd, 2010
9:26 pm
Up to 84 now. No dawgs taken. Hysterical
Matt the Brave
April 23rd, 2010
9:30 pm
Hey Justin, I’m sure that the Dawgs not going until the 3rd round completely destroys this whole program. Uh, best of my knowledge, we STILL beat you. HA!
bg3003
April 23rd, 2010
9:31 pm
who is corey peters???
JSS
April 23rd, 2010
9:31 pm
Even in the draft, the UK Cats run this State! Ha. ha!!!
JSS
April 23rd, 2010
9:33 pm
Sorry, that was not fair to UGA fans, but it sure was sweet to type!
The Grinch
April 23rd, 2010
9:38 pm
Wow. An undersized DT who “carries too much bad weight around” and is inconsistent, lacks power, can’t shed blockers and not very motivated (”takes way too many plays off”). He had a 2.5 grade out of 10 according to NFL.com and likely could have been had in the 5th or 6th round. Doesn’t fit anything we need at all, and is a terrible reach on top of that value wise. I’m a huge TD supporter, but I’m quite flabbergasted by this pick. Taking a lesser Vance Walker with your 2nd overall pick? Don’t we already have plenty of undersized, underachieving DT’s? WTH?
The Grinch
April 23rd, 2010
9:40 pm
Maybe TD knows something we don’t (and I’m sure he does), but if the rest of the draft goes like this there’s little doubt we’ll be receiving an “F” from all the analysts.
Justin
April 23rd, 2010
9:42 pm
A citadel player taken before a dawg. Yet the stupid redneck dawg fans think they have an elite program. Now that is funny!
JB
April 23rd, 2010
9:47 pm
Keep this to the draft. UGA/Tech is way out of bounds.
Carlos Dunlap - MeMiM
April 23rd, 2010
9:53 pm
[...] pass rusher on the board Friday night and took Florida junior defensive end Carlos Dunlap in the sCarlos Dunlap – In what the draft experts are calling a “Boom or Bust,” selection, the Bengals opted for the [...]
Huh????
April 23rd, 2010
9:56 pm
Did we rly just draft corey peters??????? TD must be crazy that is ridiculous. I hope i am proved wrong.
Is it really our turn?
April 23rd, 2010
9:57 pm
I knew when time was running out and Atlanta had still not made their pick, something illogical was about to happen. And it did.
Rodger Saffold - Ardub
April 23rd, 2010
10:00 pm
[...] surface for former Texas Longhorns linebacker Sergio Kindle in draft · 2010 NBA Playoffs: Lakers PhRodger Saffold – 2010 NFL Draft: St. Louis Rams take OT Rodger Saffold to open second round · Source: Injury [...]
JSS
April 23rd, 2010
10:10 pm
No one is talking TECH/UGA, it is SEC East smackdown! I don’t even have a “Dog” in the fight! Still, I keeping hearing about all of those 5 Star players, what happened?
dammit
April 23rd, 2010
10:10 pm
Curran just went to Tenn…
Josh B
April 23rd, 2010
10:11 pm
Mike Johnson, Guard
JSS
April 23rd, 2010
10:14 pm
Good for Curran, I hope finally gets to make some money!
Justin
April 23rd, 2010
10:14 pm
Shut up ya douche.
Probably a tech nerd anyways…
Huh????
April 23rd, 2010
10:15 pm
I do not believe this
Huh????
April 23rd, 2010
10:19 pm
I have officially lost all respect i ever had for thomas dimitroff
Mr. Huh???
April 23rd, 2010
10:20 pm
Who would you have taken there???
JSS
April 23rd, 2010
10:25 pm
That is a mighty big word for vinegar and water! Great for cleaning glass surfaces by the way!
ryan
April 23rd, 2010
10:29 pm
I am surprised that the T.D. did not eaither Eric Norwood from S.C. or Everson Griffen from USC .The Falcons still need a DE or OL is Matt Tennat still on the board.
Huh????
April 23rd, 2010
10:29 pm
Everson griffin at 83 without a doubt and matt tenant at 98
Justin
April 23rd, 2010
10:30 pm
I’m sure you’d know!
Bob B
April 23rd, 2010
10:34 pm
TD has completely lost his mind…..absolutely horrible picks today…Peters????Johnson????? Go back to NE TD…..you have hurt the team for years to come.
JSS
April 23rd, 2010
10:38 pm
Sure do little Fella! Beso mi (fill in the blank!)
Too quick to judge
April 23rd, 2010
10:42 pm
Don’t be too quick to judge DT for the Peters pick. He might have drafted him so that he could trade him for the rights to Aundray Bruce.
Jordan Shipley - Ardub
April 23rd, 2010
11:33 pm
[...] so long to be drafted. com provides the latest coverage including commen. Quarterback gets passed oJordan Shipley – I cant figure out why some people took joy from Colt McCoy and Jordan Shipley being forced to [...]
groundfog
April 23rd, 2010
11:34 pm
Schultz what happed to Dwyer?geez he slipped.
Jordan Shipley
April 23rd, 2010
11:34 pm
[...] so long to be drafted. com provides the latest coverage including commen. Quarterback gets passed oJordan Shipley – I cant figure out why some people took joy from Colt McCoy and Jordan Shipley being forced to [...]
Lame Pick
April 23rd, 2010
11:39 pm
coo coo bird fan
April 23rd, 2010
6:06 pm
“Your an idiot lame pick! You wanted to take a WR who played in a wishbone offense and have the nerve to call a 3 time Big 12 1st teamer sluggish? You obviously don’t watch college football. Stop getting your info from Kiper and McShay and watch some games other than Tech for a change. TD is a great GM and I have faith they’ll supply us with quality.”
Heh heh. Not sure which WR named D. Thomas played in a wishbone offense but I do know that a few dollars and being a “3 time Big 12 1st teamer” will get you a beer at most NFL stadiums. The TD is a great GM statement is one that I doubt will be thrown around so casually after this draft nightmare. Thats 2 “F” as in epic fail drafts in row now.